Thomas noton fletcher



T. N. FLETCHER. MILKING MACHINE TEAT 0U APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, i915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

illlllllllllJlluvdlJll hwwww m F 3 F M i J m f //V VENTOR. 7790mm Nora/v FITQHE A Tran/v51 THOMAS NOTON FLETCHER, OF HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAIQ'D.

MILKING-MACHINE Tear-0UP.

Application filed December 8, 1915.

1 b all (ii/tom it may concern:

lie it known that I, THOMAS No'roN Fns'rcuicii, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hamilton, Auckland, New Zcaland, have invented a new and useful Improved Milking-Machine Teat-Cup; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in milking machine teat cups of that class in which a rigid casing is combined with a tubular flexible rubber lining secured atits top and bottom ends within the casing and which lining in the operation of the teat is caused to alternately close upon and release the teat placed within it in the well known manner.

The invention has been designed in order to provide means whereby such lining (or inflation as it is generally termed) will be caused to close in on to the teat at three capiidistant points around it, when inflated and thereby to exert a pressure down the teat length at corresponding points. The construction of the means devised for effect ing this purpose is also such as to cause'siich engagements with the teat to take place first near the upper end of the ,cup and gradually to work down to the lower end.

The means designed for carrying out the invention consist in a. cup fitting adapted to enter and close the bottom end of the infiation and formed with the usual nipple fitting to receive the milk tube connection.

I This cup will be held in position in any suitable manner, for instance by jan'iining into the inflation end, or by means of a screw collar cap fitting over the casing bottom. The fittin is formed with three spring arms or prongs extending upward from points equidistant apart in its circumference and extending right up to near the top end of the cup. Each of these spring arms or prongs is shaped with a wide base narr0wing to its top edge.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional ele vation of the iniprovec teat cup. Fig. "l is a sectional plan taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the pronged fitting forming the special feature of this invention.

A is the usual casing and B the inflation Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Ari 22, 1 .916.

Serial No. 55,710.

which are made on the common general lines.

C is the cup shaped fitting that adapted to fit into the bottom end of the casing and to fasten, and hold the inflation between it and the casing by wedging therein in" the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. T his cup is provided with the ordinary nipple extension I) to receive the milk tube. connection with the claw. In this invention it is also formed with the three upwardly extending spring arms or prongs E each one of which is made to taper to a blunt point at its top end and which. prongs are situated at even circumferential distances apart and lit closely upon the inside of the inflation It. The upper end of the inflation is secured to the casing in any approved manner, as for instance by being turned down around its top edge and sccurcdby the screw cap or,

space between it and the casing in the well known way, the prongs E will serve to keep back the portions of the inflation with which they engage. so that those portions between them will liulge inward in the manner shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Then also by reason of the wider spaces between the prongs at the top ends and the prongs being weaker at such endsthe resistance to the inward movements will be less there and gradually increase downward so that the inward movement will commence at the top and gradually work down. Thus a three cornered squeeze will be exerted on the teat within the cup, such squeeze serving to keep the teat centered and to express the milk from it by the downward squeezing action imparted thereto.

I claim 1. In milking machine teat cups, the combination with a casing and a rubber lining or inflation fitted therein, of a cup shaped device having the milk nipple attached fitting within the bottom end of the lining and or inflation fitted therein, of three spring In testimony whereof, I have signed this prongs fixedat their bottom ends and exspecification 1n the 'presenceof two subscribendin 11 Ward inside the 1inin at e uul in Witnesses.

D b t) circumferential distances apart, each 01 such THOMAS NOTON'1*LE'lCl IER.'- 5 prongs being shaped with sides tapering to Witnesses: v

a, blunt point at its top end, substantially as EDWARD VAROBE-SMITH,

and for the purposes herem specified. E'rnEL FRANCES GOURTNEY.-, 

